Hi Rick ~~ I'm so sorry you're having problems. It's not unusual with fusion surgery. The problem is that with spinal surgery - even with the kind without fusion -- the levels above or below the surgery site tend to fail because they have to take on more of the load. Consequently, many patients are told they need more surgery -- and they go ahead with it. That's the WORST thing you can do. Surgery begets more surgery. So if your doctor tells you that you have another herniation -- do NOT have more surgery UNLESS it is impinging on the spinal cord.

Your best bet is to just stay with physical therapy and then go to a pain management doctor. There they can give you more options for pain relief.

Something that startled me is the American Medical Society said that last year, spinal surgeries (both fusion & regular) had the SAME outcome as people who had physical therapy!!! In other words, the surgeries were NEEDLESS. They said more and more needless surgeries are being done all the time. The United States has the highest rate of spinal surgeries than anyone else. Quite alarming, isn't it? It seems our doctors want to get mighty RICH at OUR expense! What happened to the Hippocratic Oath of "First do no Harm?" I think doctors have forgotten that.

Anyway -- try pain management - you'll likely get better pain care than you have now. Best of luck. God bless. Hugs, Lee